Unofficial Safe Sex Emoji Launched to Mark World AIDS Day

• To mark World AIDS Day Durex calls for people to use and share the "Umbrella with Raindrops" emoji to help raise awareness of the risks associated with unprotected sex 
• More than 75% of 16-35 year olds surveyed^[1] use emojis to discuss sex, with 9 out of 10 claiming that a safe sex emoji would help them to talk more openly about safe sex 
• Almost 50% of 16-35 year olds think that HIV is not something that could affect them^[2] despite the fact that 2.1 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2015^[3]  

As part of Durex's ongoing #CondomEmoji campaign, the World's leading sexual wellbeing brand has announced "Umbrella with Raindrops" as the overwhelmingly preferred choice in a global poll^[1] to name the unofficial safe sex emoji.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371651LOGO )

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161130/444097 )

To mark World AIDS Day on December 1^st, Durex is now calling for people to use and share the emoji and hashtag #CondomEmoji on social media in order to raise awareness of the risks associated with unprotected sex and demonstrate the need for an official #CondomEmoji to be approved by Unicode to appear on every smartphone.

The campaign has been launched in response to the shocking revelation that half of 16-35 year olds felt that HIV is not something that could ever affect them^[2] despite the fact that 36.7 million people globally are living with HIV and 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus during the last year.

More than 60% of young people surveyed^[1] admitted to being uncomfortable discussing safe sex, with 72% claiming they found it easier to express emotions using emojis and more than three quarters admitting that they use emojis to discuss sex. 9 out of 10 agreed that an official #CondomEmoji would be something that would help them to talk more openly about safe sex.  

Durex Global Category Director, Volker Sydow, said: "At Durex we believe that for this World AIDS Day identifying the unofficial safe sex emoji is an important step that helps to empower young people to put safe sex back on the agenda, supporting the fight to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS. We are asking people to show their support for the cause by using this unofficial safe sex emoji and sharing the hashtag #CondomEmoji."

The campaign has also received the support of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, with Director General Tewodros Melesse adding: "Safe sex awareness continues to be an important global challenge. We support Durex's campaign in helping make young people think about protection. On World AIDS Day we will be backing this effort to help raise awarness of the risks associated with unprotected sex."

Sources:

1. 3GEM - UK, October 2016

2. Someone Like Me, VIMN & Brand Solutions Insight with Tapestry Research, 2014

3. UNAIDS. Factsheet, November, 2016

SOURCE Durex